Nigeria set for action on 'stolen' land

President Obasanjo says he is serious about corruption

By Chris Simpson in Lagos

In Nigeria, the government says it is now ready to take action to recover a series of properties which it says belongs to the state.

Backing the findings of a special panel on land issues, the government has earmarked buildings and land plots which it says were transferred to private ownership through the wrong channels.

The properties include a hotel, built without the correct authorisation in Lagos, and land which formerly belonged to state-owned industries like the national electricity corporation and Nigerian airways.

Buildings put up on access roads and in other unauthorised locations will be destroyed.

Condemned

The investigations were ordered by president Olusegun Obasanjo as part of his promise to attack all forms of government corruption and malpractice when he came to power two years ago.

In a statement issued by the president's office, the government noted and condemned the role played by several senior officials in authorising illegal property transactions.

There was particular concern about the role of the Ministry of Works and Housing. The head of service is to take disciplinary action against all serving federal officers who have acted improperly.

Wrongly acquired properties are to be taken from their owners

The threatened reappropriation campaign could bring severe embarrassment and inconvenience to a number of prominent Nigerians.

Several of the new owners named by the government commission have impressive military and political connections. The government has urged federal authorities to be much more vigilant about the use of the government's authority.

Serious problem

Illegal property transactions have been a serious problem in Nigeria for years.

Last week, an ex-minister, Bashir Dalhatu and six top former officials in the Nigeria Power Authority were banned from holding political office for selling land cheaply to themselves, friends and family. They too were asked to return the land to the people.

Although President Obasanjo has pledged to rid the country of corruption, rampant during years of military rule, an investigation into corruption in the country's national assembly last year uncovered evidence of massive misuse of public funds.

This was followed by a report by the international anti-corruption group, Transparency International, in 2000 which ranked Nigeria as the most corrupt country in the world, up from 27th the year before.